Dosing

Adults (over 18 years old)

There is no proven effective dose for boswellia. For asthma, 300 milligrams three times a day of boswellia powdered gum resin capsules (S-compound®) taken by mouth has been used. Another dose that has been taken is 400 milligrams three times daily (extract standardized to 37.5% boswellic acids per dose). For Crohn's disease, 1,200 milligrams three times daily of standardized Boswellia serrata gum resin H15® has been taken by mouth for up to eight weeks. For rheumatoid arthritis, 400 milligrams three times daily of standardized Boswellia serrata gum resin H15® has been taken by mouth. For ulcerative colitis, 350-400 milligrams three times daily (extract standardized to 37.5% boswellic acids per dose) has been taken by mouth.

Children (under 18 years old)

Safety, efficacy, and dosing have not been systematically studied. Some experts believe that regular use of boswellia may mask the symptoms of asthma in children and may delay diagnosis. Use in children should be supervised by a qualified healthcare professional.

Safety

DISCLAIMER:
Many complementary techniques are practiced by healthcare professionals with formal training, in accordance with the standards of national organizations. However, this is not universally the case, and adverse effects are possible. Due to limited research, in some cases only limited safety information is available.

Allergies

Avoid in individuals with a known allergy to boswellia, its constituents, or members in the Burseraveae family. Allergic contact dermatitis has been associated with the use of a naturopathic cream containing Boswellia serrata extract.

Side Effects and Warnings

Boswellia is generally believed to be safe when used as directed, although safety and toxicity have not been well studied in humans. The most common complaints in trials have been nausea and acid reflux. A qualified healthcare professional, including a pharmacist, should be consulted prior to use.

Dermatitis (itchy, inflamed skin) has been reported in clinical trials using Articulin-F®, a combination product containing gum resin from Boswellia serrata as well as Withania somnifera (ashwagandha), Curcuma longa (turmeric), and zinc complex. However, it is not clear if boswellia alone would cause these effects.

Boswellia extract has been associated with mild gastrointestinal upset, abdominal fullness, epigastric pain, gastroesophageal reflux symptoms, diarrhea, and nausea. It is not clear to what extent these symptoms were related to the patients' underlying colitis or the boswellia specifically in some cases due to use of a combination product.

Pregnancy & Breastfeeding

Reports in the Indian literature suggest that resin from boswellia is an emmenagogue (promotes menstruation) and may induce abortion. Safety of boswellia during pregnancy has not been systematically studied, and therefore cannot be recommended.